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== Testing ==

{{{FeatureFixture}}} uses the testtools fixtures API to hook into your code. When it is installed on a TestCase object, the fixture will be automatically torn down and reset between tests, restoring all of the originally set flags.

''NOTE: There is one gotcha: all existing flags are wiped out by the fixture for the duration of the test. If you want them to carry over, you need to do so yourself.''

== Sample Code ==

You can use the fixture three different ways:

 a. With the {{{TestCase.useFixture()}}} method
 a. As a context manager, using the `'with'` statement
 a. By directly calling a fixture instance's `setUp()` and `cleanUp()` methods


Here is some sample code demonstrating each:

{{{
#!python

  from lp.services.features.testing import FeatureFixture
  from lp.services.features import getFeatureFlag


  class FeatureTestCase(TestCase):

    layer = DatabaseFunctionalLayer # Fixtures need the database for now

    def test_useFixture(self):
      # You can use the fixture with the useFixture() TestCase method:
      self.useFixture(FeatureFixture({'reds': 'on'}))
      self.assertEqual(getFeatureFlag('reds'), 'on')

    def test_with_context_manager(self):
      # Or as a context manager:
      with FeatureFixture({'blues': None}):
        self.assertEqual(getFeatureFlag('blues'), None)

    def test_setUp_and_cleanUp(self):
      # You can call a fixture's setUp() and cleanUp() directly.
      # This is good for use in doctests.
      flags = FeatureFixture({'greens': 'mu'})
      flags.setUp()
      self.addCleanup(flags.cleanUp) # or use a try/finally
}}}

For more details on using the fixture and other feature flag utilities, check
the module docs in `lib/lp/services/features/__init__.py`

For sample code, check:

 * `lib/lp/services/features/testing.py`
 * `lib/lp/services/features/tests/test_helpers.py`
 * `$ grep -r FeatureFixture lib/lp/`

Feature Flags

FeatureFlags allow Launchpad's configuration to be changed while it's running, and for particular features or behaviours to be exposed to only a subset of users or requests.

Key points

  • Guard new potentially-dangerous or controversial features by a flag.
  • Make sure the documentation is clear enough to make sense to a LOSA in a high-pressure situation; don't assume they will be familiar with the detailed implementation of the feature.

Scenarios

  • Dark launches (aka embargoes: land code first, turn it on later)
  • Closed betas
  • Scram switches (eg "omg daily builds are killing us, make it stop")
  • Soft/slow launch (let just a few users use it and see what happens)
  • Site-wide notification
  • Show an 'alpha', 'beta' or 'new!' badge next to a UI control, then later turn it off without a new rollout
  • Show developer-oriented UI only to developers (eg the query count)
  • Control page timeouts (or other resource limits) either per page id, or per user group
  • Set resource limits (eg address space cap) for jobs.

Concepts

A feature flag has a string name, and has a dynamically-determined value within a particular context such as a web or api request. The value in that context depends on determining which scopes are relevant to the context, and what rules exist for that flag and scopes. The rules are totally ordered and the highest-prority rule determines the relevant value.

For a list of available flags and scopes see https://launchpad.net/+feature-info

Priority

Prority is exposed as an integer that gives a total order across all rules. The numerically highest priority wins. For example with these rules

hard_timeout team:admins 1 18000
hard_timeout default 0 15000

the first rule has a higher priority (1 > 0). So that rule is evaluated first, and it will match for anyone in ~admins. If that doesn't match, the second is evaluated and it is always true. So admins get a 18s timeout, and everyone else 15s.

Operations

A change to a flag in production counts as a production change: it is made by a LOSA on request from a squad lead, or other relevant manager. Ask in #launchpad-ops or #launchpad-dev.

Feature rules are loosely coupled to code changes: you can activate rules before the code they control is live.

Web interface

Debugging

A html comment at the bottom of rendered pages describes which features were looked up, and which scopes were consulted to make that decision. This doesn't include features that could be active but aren't relevant to the page, or scopes that may be active but aren't relevant to deciding the value of the features.

Performance

Feature flags are designed and intended to be fast enough that they can be used as much as is useful within reason. The result of a flag and of a scope is checked at most once per request.

Naming conventions

Flag naming

Flags should be named as

  • scope.feature.effect

where each of the parts is a legal Python name (so use underscores to join words, not dashes.)

The scope is the general area of Launchpad this relates to: eg 'code', 'librarian', ...

The feature is the particular thing that's being controlled, such as 'recipes' or 'render_time'.

The effect is typically 'enabled', 'visible', or 'timeout'. These should always be in the positive sense, not 'disabled'. If timeouts are given, they should be in seconds (decimals can be given in the value.)

Scope naming

Servers are matched using a simple regexp and for those that take parameters they are separated by a colon, eg team:admins.

There is no way at present to give a rule that checks multiple scopes or any other boolean conditions. You need to either choose one to match first, or add a new scope that matches just what you need, or extend the feature flag infrastructure to evaluate boolean expressions.

Reading a feature flag

  • Python code: features.getFeatureFlag(name) => value

  • TAL code: <div tal:condition="features/name">hello world!"</div>

Adding a new feature flag

If you introduce a new feature flag, as well as reading it from whereever is useful, you should also:

  • Add a section in lib/lp/services/features/flags.py flag_info describing the flag.

Adding a new scope controller

Add a new class in lib/lp/services/features/scopes.py and insert it into HANDLERS in that file.

Testing

FeatureFixture uses the testtools fixtures API to hook into your code. When it is installed on a TestCase object, the fixture will be automatically torn down and reset between tests, restoring all of the originally set flags.

NOTE: There is one gotcha: all existing flags are wiped out by the fixture for the duration of the test. If you want them to carry over, you need to do so yourself.

Sample Code

You can use the fixture three different ways:

  1. With the TestCase.useFixture() method

  2. As a context manager, using the 'with' statement

  3. By directly calling a fixture instance's setUp() and cleanUp() methods

Here is some sample code demonstrating each:

   1   from lp.services.features.testing import FeatureFixture
   2   from lp.services.features import getFeatureFlag
   3 
   4 
   5   class FeatureTestCase(TestCase):
   6 
   7     layer = DatabaseFunctionalLayer  # Fixtures need the database for now
   8 
   9     def test_useFixture(self):
  10       # You can use the fixture with the useFixture() TestCase method:
  11       self.useFixture(FeatureFixture({'reds': 'on'}))
  12       self.assertEqual(getFeatureFlag('reds'), 'on')
  13 
  14     def test_with_context_manager(self):
  15       # Or as a context manager:
  16       with FeatureFixture({'blues': None}):
  17         self.assertEqual(getFeatureFlag('blues'), None)
  18 
  19     def test_setUp_and_cleanUp(self):
  20       # You can call a fixture's setUp() and cleanUp() directly.
  21       # This is good for use in doctests.
  22       flags = FeatureFixture({'greens': 'mu'})
  23       flags.setUp()
  24       self.addCleanup(flags.cleanUp) # or use a try/finally

For more details on using the fixture and other feature flag utilities, check the module docs in lib/lp/services/features/__init__.py

For sample code, check:

  • lib/lp/services/features/testing.py

  • lib/lp/services/features/tests/test_helpers.py

  • $ grep -r FeatureFixture lib/lp/

See also

FeatureFlags (last edited 2023-07-24 06:32:55 by jugmac00)